Apparatus for measuring pressure and/or humidity

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring pressure and/or humidity, and to a method for measuring pressure and/or humidity. The apparatus comprises at least one sensor for measuring pressure and/or humidity, wherein the sensor comprises at least one capacitor comprising at least two electrodes that are arranged, in particular, in a horizontal direction along and on an, in particular, flexible support material relative to one another. At least one dielectric layer is arranged between the electrodes. The invention is characterised in that at least one at least partially liquid-permeable and/or liquid-absorbing moisture layer is arranged at least in some places on a side, facing away from a support material, of at least one electrode and/or the dielectric layer. The at least one electrode and/or the dielectric layer are thus then arranged between the support material and the moisture layer in a transverse direction. In this way, a capacitance is at least partially changed by the liquid at least partially hitting the dielectric layer, wherein a processing unit is designed and provided to measure and/or store this change, so as to create a capacitive moisture sensor.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a method for producing a textile piece,in particular a garment, and an apparatus for producing a textile piece,in particular a garment according to the claims which follow.

The apparatus according to the invention for measuring pressure and/orhumidity comprises at least one sensor for measuring pressure and/orhumidity, wherein the sensor comprises at least one capacitor comprisingat least two electrodes that are arranged, in particular, in ahorizontal direction along and on an, in particular, flexible supportmaterial relative to one another, wherein at least one dielectric layeris arranged between the electrodes.

The horizontal direction is preferably a main extension direction of theflexible support material.

“Flexible” refers in this context to the support material being bendableand thus resilient at least in some places.

In particular, the support material may be a woven fabric, or anotherclothing fabric, such as, for example, a polyester.

The dielectric layer thus spaces the two electrodes apart in ahorizontal direction and/or transverse direction perpendicular thereto.

According to the invention, at least one at least partiallyliquid-permeable and/or liquid-absorbing moisture layer is arranged atleast in some places on a side, facing away from the support material,of at least one electrode and/or of the dielectric layer, wherein the atleast one electrode and/or dielectric layer are thus arranged betweenthe support material and the moisture layer in a transverse direction,such that a capacitance is at least partially changed by the liquid atleast partially hitting the dielectric layer, wherein a processing unitis designed and provided to measure and/or store this change, so as tocreate a capacitive moisture sensor.

A capacitive moisture sensor is basically a capacitor having adielectric that is preferably composed of a hygroscopic polymer layerthat, depending on the humidity of the ambient air, takes in (absorbs)or releases (desorbs) moisture until an equilibrium state (where thediffusion gradient=0) is reached. The dielectric constant of the polymermaterial then changes as a function of moisture content.

The purpose of the processing unit is, inter alia, to determine therelative humidity as accurately as possible, preferably also from ameasured ambient temperature and the humidity-dependent capacitance ofthe sensor.

According to at least one embodiment, the apparatus for measuringpressure and/or humidity comprises at least one sensor for measuringpressure and/or humidity, wherein the sensor comprises at least onecapacitor comprising at least two electrodes that are arranged, inparticular, in a horizontal direction along and on an, in particular,flexible support material relative to one another, wherein at least onedielectric layer is arranged between the electrodes.

According to the invention, at least one at least partiallyliquid-permeable and/or liquid-absorbing layer (=moisture layer) isarranged at least in some places on a side, facing away from the supportmaterial, of at least one electrode and/or dielectric layer, wherein theat least one electrode and/or dielectric layer are thus arranged betweenthe support material and the moisture layer in a transverse direction,such that a capacitance is at least partially changed by the liquid atleast partially hitting the dielectric layer, wherein a processing unitis designed and provided to measure and/or store this change, so as tocreate a capacitive moisture sensor.

The moisture layer can be formed from a dielectric material. Thematerial of the moisture layer can be different from the material of thewater-impermeable layer.

The sensor and/or the processing unit may be supplied with electricalenergy by means of a battery or a fixed grid power supply.

An alternative or additional possibility is to generate electricalenergy for supply to the sensor and/or processing unit by means ofso-called “energy harvesting”.

Energy harvesting refers to obtaining small quantities of electricalenergy from sources such as ambient temperature, vibrations, or airflows for low-power mobile devices. The structures used therefor arealso referred to as nanogenerators. Due to wireless technology, energyharvesting avoids the limitations resulting from wired power supplies orbatteries.

Possibilities for energy harvesting:

-   -   Piezoelectric crystals generate electrical voltages when        subjected to force, for example, through pressure or vibration.        These crystals may be arranged at or on the support material.    -   Thermoelectric generators and pyroelectric crystals obtain        electrical energy from temperature differences. These generators        may be arranged at or on the support material.    -   Via antennas, the energy of radio waves, a form of        electromagnetic radiation, can be captured and used for energy.        One example thereof is passive RFIDs. These antennas may be        arranged at or on the support material.    -   Photovoltaics, electrical energy from ambient light.    -   Osmosis.

According to at least one embodiment, the sensor is additionally acapacitive pressure sensor, wherein the processing unit is additionallydesigned and provided to measure and/or store a change in capacitance ofthe capacitor caused by external pressure.

Basically, a capacitive sensor is thus a sensor that works on the basisof the change in the electrical capacitance of an individual capacitoror of a capacitor system. The capacitance may be affected in differentmanners by the variable to be acquired, which is determined primarily bythe intended use.

A capacitive sensor is based, inter alia, on two electrodes, one ofwhich may be the surface to be measured, forming the “plates” of anelectrical capacitor, the capacitance of which or a change in thecapacitance of which is measured, and may be affected as follows:

-   -   One plate is displaced and/or deformed by the effect to be        measured, whereby the spacing of the plates and thus the        measurable electrical capacitance are altered.    -   The plates are rigid, and the capacitance thereof changes when        an electrically conductive material or a dielectric is brought        into the immediate vicinity.    -   The effective plate area is altered by displacement of the        plates relative to one another, as with a variable capacitor.

In order to be better able to detect even small changes, the actualmeasuring electrode is often surrounded by a shield electrode, whichshields the non-homogeneous edge region of the electrical field from themeasuring electrode, thereby producing, between measuring electrodes ofa typically grounded counter-electrode, a substantially parallelelectrical field with the known characteristics of an ideal platecapacitor.

A capacitive pressure sensor is, in particular, one with which thechange in capacitance as a result of flexing of a membrane and theresulting change in the plate spacing is evaluated as a sensor effect.For example, the membrane may be the above-mentioned dielectric, or theindividual capacitor electrodes, which may be configured, in particular,in the form of a plate. In other words, in such an embodiment, acapacitive moisture sensor is combined in a novel manner with acapacitive pressure sensor, but without these components formingseparated elements or two distinct sensors, but rather the presentembodiment involves a “two-in-one” concept, where the same sensorfunctions both as a moisture sensor and as a pressure sensor.

According to at least one embodiment, the support material is a wovenfabric, in particular into which conductor paths are woven forelectrical contact between the sensor and the processing unit.

A woven fabric within the meaning of the invention is therefore a fabricthat has been woven manually or by machine on the basis of individualthreads.

The electrical conductor paths may therefore be additionally integratedin a fabric, in addition to the usual fibres and fabric strands, or mayreplace individual fabric strands constituting the fabric mesh.

Depending on the distance and the properties of the individual threads(high-twist, bulked, etc.), a rather loose fabric may be produced, suchas a dressing fabric, or a dense fabric such as brocade material. Withlongitudinal resilience, fabrics are used by rubber threads (more bandsused) used as warp yarns, or crimped and bulked yarns. They aretensioned, processed, and contracted in the resting state. Bulked yarnis composed of textured, i.e. crimped synthetic fibres. The crimpingalters the properties of the synthetic fibres. The yarn spun thereon isvery resilient and voluminous, and has favourable thermal insulation.

For example, the support material may be part of an upholstery materialof a seat, in particular a vehicle seat or an office chair. In thisrespect, the sensor, but preferably the entire apparatus, may beinstalled on the upholstery material of such a seat or integratedtherein.

For example, the processing unit is designed and provided to acquire theindividual moisture and pressure values, and to determine, from acombination of the individual moisture and pressure values, at least oneparticular characteristic value from which it is possible to derivewhich individual (by weight and/or size) has just occupied the vehicleseat.

For example, from the pressure measurement by the processing unit, it ispossible to derive and establish a weight of the respective person. Theparticular humidity that the respective person gives off to the sensormay also be measured, wherein the respective characteristic value is,for example, the product of the relative humidity value times the loadweight determined by the processing unit.

If such a characteristic value exceeds a corresponding limit value, thenthe processing unit may issue a warning, in particular by means of aconnection to the electronics of the vehicle. This warning may be to theeffect that the seat is overloaded or that the driver is sweating toointensely. This warning, may also, however, be replaced by acorresponding display as to what occupancy type is using the seat. Anoccupancy type may entail a weight classification for a particular user,or may entail whether the user is an animal, a human, or an object.Preferably, therefore, the processing unit can be integrated intodisplay electronics of the vehicle, or at least can be connectedthereto.

For this purpose, it would be conceivable for the processing unit toconnect, for example, by means of Bluetooth or another wirelessconnection to a receiving unit of the vehicle, and for the respectivecharacteristic value or limit value and/or the respective warning and/orthe respective identifier of the user to be played back on a display ofthe vehicle.

Alternatively or additionally thereto, it would also be conceivable forit to be possible to externally retrieve and/or externally display theseindividual values and/or identifiers. For example, the car may bemonitored for occupancy by an external controller.

For example, the processing unit may, by means of a data link, beconnected to a triggering unit of an airbag, so that the processing unitcan also control the triggering unit in an open and/or closed-loopmanner, in particular in relation to a triggering time point of theairbag. Additionally or alternatively thereto, it is also possible forthe processing unit to supply a controller unit of the airbag with data,for example with respect to an occupancy type, position, and/or weightof a user of the vehicle seat.

This data may cause the triggering time point and the triggeringsequence of the airbag to be adapted to the user, so as to preventpersonal injury to the user.

According to at least one embodiment, at least one electrode and/ordielectric layer is printed or applied by means of a thin-layer methodonto the support material or onto an, in particular, water-impermeablelayer arranged on the support material.

This means that at least one element, preferably both the electrode andthe dielectric layer, are printed by means of a printing method onto thesupport material or a preferably non-electroconductive, furtherpreferably water-impermeable layer that has been applied between thesensor and the support material.

The printing method may entail, for example, an inkjet method.

For example, the processing unit is applied to the support material inthe same manner as the sensor. For this purpose, it would beconceivable, for example, to also print the processing unit, or at leastone, in particular conductive, layer of the processing unit onto thesupport material. The data communication between the processing unit andthe sensor may then occur via the above-mentioned conductor paths. Theseconductor paths may be woven at least partially, but preferablyentirely, into the fabric, or may even themselves constitute individualfibres of the fabric.

For example, at least one electrode is configured so as to be flat. Thismeans that a thickness of the electrodes is negligible in comparison tothe surface area thereof. Such an electrode may therefore be produced,in particular, by means of a printing method.

As an alternative thereto, a thickness of at least one electrode may beat most 5 mm. For this purpose, the printing method may be appliedseveral times, so that at least two, but preferably even more,individual pressure layers are stacked one over the other.

The electrodes may also be arranged on the support material by means ofa 3D printing method.

1. The Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) Method

Alternative names: fused filament fabrication (FFF), fused layermodelling (FLM)

The method refers to layered deposition (extrusion) of a materialthrough a hot nozzle. The consumable material is in the form of a longwire (so-called filament) on a roll and is pushed by the conveyor unitinto a print head, melted therein, and deposited onto a print bed. Inthe process, the print head and/or print bed are movable in threedirections. Layers of plastics can thus be deposited in stages on top ofone another.

2. The Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Method

Unlike the sintering method, in which materials in powder form arecombined with one another under the effect of heat, this occursselectively in the SLS method using a laser (alternatively also anelectron beam or infrared beam). Therefore, only a certain quantity ofthe powder is molten together.

For this purpose, a thin layer of powder is constantly output by thelayering unit onto the print bed. The laser (or other energy source) isnow precisely aligned with individual points on the powder layer inorder to form the first layer of print data. In the process, the powderis melted or fused and then solidifies again as a result of slightcooling. The powder that has not been fused remains lying around thesintered regions and serves as a support material. After one layer hassolidified, the print bed is lowered by a fraction of a millimetre. Thelayering unit now travels across the print bed and outputs the nextlayer of powder. Subsequently, the second layer of print data issintered by the laser (or another energy source). A three-dimensionalobject thus emerges gradually.

3. Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP)

The 3DP method functions very similarly to selective laser sintering,but instead of a directed energy source, a print head travels over thepowder. This releases tiny droplets of binding agent onto the underlyingpowder layers, which are thus connected to one another. This method isotherwise identical to the SLS method.

4. Stereolithography (SLA)

Instead of a plastics wire or print material in powder form, liquidresins, so-called photopolymers, are used in the stereolithographymethod. They are hardened in layers by UV radiation and thus producethree-dimensional objects. For this purpose, the platform is loweredgradually in the resin vat. There are also variants (so-called polyjetmethods) without an entire vat with liquid resin. For this purpose, anepoxy resin is applied out of a nozzle droplet by droplet andimmediately hardened by a UV laser.

5. Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)

Alternative Name: Layer Laminated Manufacturing (LLM)

The method is based on neither chemical reactions nor a thermal process.In the process, a film or plate (for example, paper) is cut along thecontour using a cutting tool (for example, a knife or carbon dioxidelaser) and bonded in layers on top of one another. A layered object ofbonded films laid on top of one another is thus produced by lowering theplatform.

One or more water-impermeable layers and/or even the moisture layer maybe applied in the same manner and/or thickness as the electrode.

According to at least one embodiment, the moisture layer completelycovers the capacitor.

This may mean that the moisture layer delimits and closes off the sensorfrom the outside, i.e. in the transverse direction, such that the sensoris arranged between the moisture layer and the support material.

According to at least one embodiment, the sensor comprises at least oneother capacitor, which is arranged below or above the capacitor in thetransverse direction and is arranged on or under anotherwater-impermeable layer so as to be spaced apart from the capacitor bythis other water-impermeable layer, thus creating a capacitor stack.

The other capacitor may be constructed in the same manner as thecapacitor, and also arranged in the same manner as the capacitor on theother water-impermeable layer.

Such a capacitor stack makes it very easy to refine the sensors, namelyin that it is conceivable that with two sensors constituting thecapacitor stack, both sensors would perform the same tasks, but theindividual sensors would determine respective measurement values thatcould then be used to find an average value. For example, the (relative)humidity of the environment is measured by each of the two sensors,wherein the mean humidity value is determined from these two measurementvalues. The same may occur accordingly with the pressure measurement,thus enabling an especially exact accuracy of the overall measurement,in particular of a combination of the measurements of (relative)humidity and the respective pressure.

According to at least one embodiment, the water-impermeable layer and/orthe other water-impermeable layer at least partially constitutes thedielectric layer.

This may mean that instead of the separate positioning of a dielectriclayer beside the water-impermeable and/or beside the otherwater-impermeable layer, this dielectric layer may itself be formed bythe water-impermeable layer and/or the other water-impermeable layer.

Such a production of the dielectric layer by the water-impermeablelayer(s) therefore forms an especially easy and low-cost method ofproduction for a low-cost apparatus.

Apart from that, it may basically be provided that the electrodes, thedielectric layer, and the water-impermeable layer(s) are arranged insuch a manner in relation to one another that an electrical shortcircuit can at least be prevented.

According to at least one embodiment, a maximum thickness of themoisture layer amounts to at least 30% and at most 80% of the maximumthickness of the water-impermeable layer and/or the maximum thickness ofthe other water-impermeable layer.

This not only ensures a sensor that is built to be especially flat, butalso guarantees an especially quick response time to changes inhumidity. Therefore, the humidity acting on the moisture layer from theoutside need not pass through large distances to reach the dielectric.

The present invention also relates to a method for measuring pressureand/or humidity, wherein it should be noted in particular that all ofthe features disclosed for the apparatus described above are alsodisclosed for the method described here, and vice versa.

According to at least one embodiment, the method for measuring pressureand/or humidity first comprises a first step by means of which at leastone sensor for measuring pressure and/or humidity is provided, whereinthe sensor comprises at least one capacitor comprising at least twoelectrodes that are arranged, in particular, in a horizontal directionalong and on an, in particular, flexible support material relative toone another, wherein at least one dielectric layer is arranged betweenthe electrodes.

According to the invention, at least one at least partiallyliquid-permeable and/or liquid-absorbing moisture layer is arranged atleast in some places on a side, facing away from the support material,of at least one electrode and/or of the dielectric layer, wherein the atleast one electrode and/or the dielectric layer are thus arrangedbetween the support material and the moisture layer in a transversedirection, such that a capacitance is at least partially changed by theliquid at least partially hitting the dielectric layer, wherein aprocessing unit measures and/or stores this change, so as to create acapacitive moisture sensor.

The method described above then has the same advantages and advantageousconfigurations as the apparatus described above.

The invention described here shall be described in greater detail belowwith reference to two embodiments and the corresponding drawings.

Like components or similarly-behaving components are provided with likereference signs.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an apparatus according to theinvention for measuring to pressure and/or humidity.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an exploded drawing, depictedin relation to the order of layers.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of an apparatus described here.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 , an apparatus 100 for measuring pressureand/or humidity is illustrated therein.

A sensor 1 is depicted by way of example therein, wherein the sensor 1shows a capacitor stack comprising a capacitor 20, as well as acapacitor 30, wherein the individual electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitors20, 30 are arranged over one another in the horizontal direction H1,wherein it goes without saying that, as an alternative thereto, however,an assembly of the individual electrodes 10, 11 of an individualcapacitor 20, 30 may run or be arranged in the transverse direction Q1,which runs perpendicularly to the horizontal direction H1, and thus alsoperpendicularly to the main extension direction of the sensor 1illustrated therein.

The individual electrodes 10, 11 are arranged on a support material 13.The support material 13 may be, in particular, a woven fabric, inparticular a flexible woven fabric.

A water-impermeable layer 4 is arranged on the support material 13,wherein the two electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitor 20 are printed in thehorizontal direction H1 on this water-impermeable layer 4.

The electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitor 20 are completely surrounded byanother water-impermeable layer 14. The other capacitor 30, comprisingcorresponding electrodes 10, 11, is printed on this water-impermeablelayer 14 in the same form and manner. In addition, in the presentembodiment, exposed outer surfaces of the individual electrodes 10, 11of the other capacitor 30 are preferably completely surrounded by awater-permeable and/or water-absorbing moisture layer 3.

Via this moisture layer 3, water can hit a dielectric layer 4, which inthe present case is arranged between the respective electrodes 10, 11 ofa capacitor 20, 30 in the horizontal direction H1.

In the present embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 , the water-impermeable layer4 itself constitutes a dielectric layer 4 of the capacitor 20. The sameis true for the other water-impermeable layer 14 in relation to theother capacitor 30.

Impact and penetration of the humidity through the moisture layer 3alter the dielectric properties, in particular, of the dielectric layer2 of the other capacitor 30.

Also visible is a processing unit 5 that has a data connection with thetwo capacitors 20, 30, wherein this processing unit 5 is designed andprovided to measure a change in the relative humidity of the environmentand/or of the moisture layer 3.

The “stackwise” arrangement depicted in FIG. 1 and the fact that theother water-impermeable layer 14 prevents the capacitor 20 from cominginto contact with humidity may therefore provide that only the othercapacitor 30 and the dielectric layer 4 thereof are exposed to thehumidity. For this purpose, the processing unit 5 may then compare achange in the capacitance of the other capacitor 30 with the stablecapacitance of the capacitor 10, such that, for this purpose, anespecially simple comparison may be produced in the change in therelative humidity and/also in the respective load pressure.

The arrow depicted in FIG. 1 also illustrates a direction of pressure inwhich the sensor 1 is subjected to pressure. Both can preferably bemeasured, evaluated, and stored by the sensor 1 and, in particular, bythe apparatus 100. This is achieved in particular by the processing unit5, which is presented as being essential in the invention and can alsoadditionally measure and evaluate corresponding pressure values and, inthis respect, related changes in the capacitance of the individualsensors 1, such that the processing unit 5 is additionally designed andprovided to measure and/or store a change, caused by external pressure,in the capacitance of the capacitor 20 and, in particular, also of theother capacitor 30.

The moisture layer 3 may be configured so as to be flexible ornon-flexible. It is also possible for the moisture layer 3 to beconfigured as a woven fabric. In particular, it may be a woven fabricthat was mentioned by way of example in the introductory part of thepresent application. It is, however, also possible for the moisturelayer 3 to be a substrate that is applied, for example adhered, to theother capacitor 30, for example in the form of an epitaxy or bondingprocess.

The water-impermeable layer 14 and/or the water-impermeable layer 15 mayalso be flexible and non-flexible, in particular may also be formed as awoven fabric or a substrate in the same manner as the moisture layer 3.

It may also be advantageously envisaged for the electrodes 10, 11 of thetwo capacitors 20, 30 to be printed onto the water-impermeable layer 14and the other water-impermeable layer 15 in the form of a printingprocess, for example an ink jet printing process.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view, wherein, in particular, therespective arrangement of the electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitors 20, 30emerges from FIG. 2 . Also visible, in turn, is the direction of force,represented by the direction of the arrow, on the sensor 1, as well asthe humidity acting through the individual, schematically depicteddrops. In particular, it is again evident that the humidity penetratesin particular between the electrodes 10, 11, and has a, for example,significant effect on the electrical property at the particularwater-permeable layer 14, such that the capacitance of at least theother capacitor 30 changes, as explained in FIG. 1 .

In another embodiment of the invention described here, FIG. 3illustrates that the sensor 1 may be composed of two electrodes 10 andone electrode 11. The electrodes 10 have one polarity (preferably thesame polarity), whereas the electrode 11 has a different polaritytherefrom, wherein, however, the exploded view of the left part of FIG.3 in the right partial image in FIG. 3 illustrates and shows that threewater-impermeable layers 4, 14, 15 are used.

The electrodes 10 may also have different polarities and/or electricalpotentials. The electrodes 10 may also be electrically connected to oneanother.

For example, the electrodes 10, 11 may also each have and/or generate adistinct polarity and/or a distinct electrical potential. The same mayalso apply to the ones in the following drawings in relation to theelectrodes.

For example, the lowermost water-impermeable layer is in turn thewater-impermeable layer 14, and the subsequent water-impermeable layer15 and the water-impermeable layer 16 arranged thereon in the transversedirection Q1 are another water-impermeable layer, wherein in each casean electrode is applied, in particular printed, onto a separatewater-impermeable layer.

This stacking of the individual water-impermeable layers 14, 15 and 16,by merging these layers, therefore produces the capacitor 20 illustratedin the left part of FIG. 3 , wherein in this case, in the transversedirection Q1, the electrodes 10 are each arranged on different planes,as can be seen in the corresponding partial view.

As an alternative hereto, the electrode 11 may also be applied with atleast one of the electrodes 10 in a shared plane, i.e. on or in a sharedwater-impermeable layer 14, 15, 16, such that, for example, only thesecond one of the electrodes 10 still needs to be stacked onto aseparate water-impermeable layer 14, 15, 16.

In principle, therefore, the individual electrodes 10, 11 may bearranged in different planes relative to one another in the Q1direction, for example a pairwise association of precisely onewater-impermeable layer 14, 15, 16 with precisely one electrode 10, 11.

The invention is not limited by the description with reference to theembodiment. Rather the invention encompasses every novel feature, aswell as every combination of features, including, in particular, everycombination of features in the claims, even if such feature orcombination is not itself explicitly set forth in the claims or in theembodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   -   1 Sensor    -   3 Moisture layer    -   4 Dielectric layer/water-impermeable layer    -   5 Processing unit    -   10 Electrode    -   11 Electrode    -   12 Electrode    -   13 Support material    -   14 Water-impermeable layer    -   15 Water-impermeable layer    -   20 Capacitor    -   30 Capacitor    -   100 Apparatus    -   200 Method    -   H1 Horizontal direction    -   Q1 Transverse direction

The invention claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for measuring pressure and/orhumidity comprising at least one sensor (1) for measuring pressureand/or humidity, wherein the sensor (1) comprises at least one capacitor(20) comprising at least two electrodes (10, 11) that are arranged, in ahorizontal direction (HI) along and on a flexible support material (13)relative to one another, wherein at least one dielectric layer (4) isarranged between the electrodes (10, 11), characterised in that at leastone partially liquid-permeable and/or liquid-absorbing moisture layer(3) is arranged at least in some places on a side, over and at leastpartially covering the supporting material (13), dielectric layer (4),and electrodes (10, 11), facing away from the support material (13), ofat least one electrode (10, 11) and/or of the dielectric layer (4),wherein the at least one electrode (10, 11) and/or the dielectric layer(4) are thus arranged between the support material (13) and the moisturelayer (3) in a transverse direction (QI) over and parallel to thesupport material (13), such that a capacitance is at least partiallychanged by the liquid at least partially hitting the dielectric layer(4), wherein a processing unit (5) is designed and provided to measureand/or store this change, so as to create a capacitive moisture sensor,and the sensor (1) is additionally a capacitive pressure sensor, whereinthe processing unit (5) is additionally arranged and provided formeasuring and/or storing a capacitance change of the capacitor (10, 20)caused by external pressure, and further wherein a capacitive pressuresensor is such a sensor in which the capacitance change due to thedeflection of a membrane and the resulting change in the plate spacingis evaluated as a sensor effect, so that the membrane is the dielectriclayer (4) or else the individual capacitor electrodes (10, 11), andwherein the sensor (1) has at least one further capacitor (30) which isarranged in the transverse direction (Q11) over and parallel to thesupport material (13), above or below the capacitor (20) and is arrangedspaced apart from the capacitor (20) by a further water-impermeablelayer (15) on or below this further water-impermeable layer (15), sothat a capacitor stack is formed, and further wherein both capacitors(20, 30) are constructed in the same way, and further wherein themoisture sensor and pressure sensor forming the capacitor stack performtasks based on capacitance change of the dielectric due to externaleffects such as moisture and pressure, and further wherein the measuringsystem (1000) comprises at least two sensors (1), wherein by theprocessing unit (5) the sensors (1) are divided into groups of at leastone sensor (1) based on at least one of the following criteria: a)location of the sensor (1) or sensors (1) on the carrier material (13),wherein the carrier material (13) is divided into surface areas, andwithin a surface area only sensors (1) of one group are arranged, and/orb) surface area of a sensor (1).
 2. Apparatus (100) according to claim1, characterised in that the support material (13) is a woven fabric,into which electrical conductor paths are woven for electrical contactbetween the sensor (1) and the processing unit (5).
 3. Apparatus (100)according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one electrode (10,11) and/or the dielectric layer (4) is printed or applied by means of athin-layer method onto the support material (13), or onto awater-impermeable layer (14) arranged on the support material
 13. 4.Apparatus (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the moisturelayer (3) completely covers the capacitor (20).
 5. Apparatus (100)according to the preceding claim 1 characterised in that thewater-impermeable layer (3) and/or the other water-impermeable layer(15) at least partially form the dielectric layer (4).
 6. Method (200)for measuring pressure and/or humidity comprising initially a first stepby means of which at least one sensor (1) for measuring pressure, gas,and/or humidity is provided, wherein the sensor (1) comprises at leastone capacitor (20) comprising at least two electrodes (10, 11) that arearranged, in a horizontal direction (HI) along and on a flexible supportmaterial (13) relative to one another, wherein at least one dielectriclayer (4) is arranged between the electrodes (10, 11), characterised inthat at least one at least partially liquid-permeable and/orliquid-absorbing moisture layer and/or gas-permeable and/orgas-absorbing (3) is arranged at least in some places on a side, overand at least partially covering the supporting material (13), dielectriclayer (4), and electrodes (10, 11), facing away from the supportmaterial (13), of at least one electrode (10, 11) and/or of thedielectric layer (4), wherein the at least one electrode (10, 11) and/orthe dielectric layer (4) are thus arranged between the support material(12) and the moisture layer (3) in a transverse direction (QI), over andparallel to the support material (13), such that a capacitance is atleast partially changed by the liquid at least partially hitting thedielectric layer (4), and the sensor (1) is additionally a capacitivepressure sensor, wherein a processing unit (5) is additionally arrangedand provided for measuring and/or storing a capacitance change of thecapacitor (10, 20) caused by external pressure, and further wherein acapacitive pressure sensor is such a sensor in which the capacitancechange due to the deflection of a membrane and the resulting change inthe plate spacing is evaluated as a sensor effect, so that the membraneis a dielectric layer (4) or else the individual capacitor electrodes(10, 11), and wherein the sensor (1) has at least one further capacitor(30) which is arranged in the transverse direction (Q1) over andparallel to the support material (13), above or below the capacitor (20)and is arranged spaced apart from the capacitor (20) by a furtherwater-impermeable layer (15) on or below this further water-impermeablelayer (15), so that a capacitor stack is formed, and further whereinboth capacitors (20, 30) are constructed in the same way, and furtherwherein the moisture sensor and pressure sensor forming the capacitorstack perform tasks based on capacitance change of the dielectric due toexternal effects such as moisture and pressure, and further wherein themeasuring system (1000) comprises at least two sensors (1), wherein bythe processing unit (5) the sensors (1) are divided into groups of atleast one sensor (1) based on at least one of the following criteria: a)location of the sensor (1) or sensors (1) on the carrier material (13),wherein the carrier material (13) is divided into surface areas, andwithin a surface area only sensors (1) of one group are arranged, and/orb) surface area of a sensor (1), and wherein a processing unit (5)measures and/or stores this capacitance change, so as to create acapacitive moisture sensor; and a second step of storing and/orreporting data derived from said capacitive moisture sensor.